When my husband mentioned he was heading off for a church camping trip with some guys, I didn’t think much of it. He’d always been the one for adventure, while I preferred sticking around home. But something felt different when he packed with an unusual excitement I hadn’t seen in a while. He left with hugs and promises of campfire stories. The house felt emptier without him, and I started wondering. Then a friend called, casually mentioning they’d seen him downtown when he should’ve been miles away camping. That’s when I knew I had to find out what was really going on.
Feeling curious, I picked up the phone and dialed my friend Tina’s number. She's always been the one to notice things I might miss. "Tina, have you seen Tom?" I asked casually, trying not to sound too worried. She was surprised by my question but eager to help. "Funny you ask," she said. "I actually saw someone looking a lot like him downtown, twice! He seemed in a hurry both times, not your usual camping vibe, huh?"